Racing: Mudders pay off at Ellerslie

Followers of wet track form were right on the mark in the Open Sprint Handicap at Ellerslie yesterday.

Rejuvenated 8-year-old Ben Sparta made it back-to-back wins when posting an effortless home stretch sprint to take out the $15,000 Waste Management 1200 in the hands of Rogan Norvall.

Ben Sparta lengthened stride impressively over the closing stages of the event to win by three-quarters of a length over Go Thenaki with a further 4 3/4 lengths back to My Lips Ar Sealed (third).

Muriwai beach trainer George Merkulov has sported a wide smile all week in the wet.

Ben Sparta seems to grow another leg when track conditions are heavy - six wins and seven minor placings from 13 starts - and is a favoured runner of betting students of wet track form.

Even more imposing is his form over 1200 metres - three wins and three minor placings from six starts.

"The wetter the better with this horse," quipped winning jockey Norvall. "He's really come into a solid patch of form with the winter track conditions dominating racing."

Popular Takanini-based trainer Charlie Faulkner was back in the winners circle in the $16,000 Tractor Centre 1600 when Grani scored an impressive victory.

Grani lasted in a dour struggle to win by a neck over I Rock My World with a further 1 3/4 lengths back to Titian (third).

Faulkner has been patient with the 5-year-old and that has been reflected by the recent record - three wins from his last four starts.

The colourful trainer thought he had lost $200 on the New Zealand TAB when placing a Fixed Odds bet on Grani.

Faulkner thought the $200 bet was placed on the gelding when finishing fourth in his last start at Avondale.

A check revealed Faulkner had mistakenly backed his stable star to win the Winter Cup at Riccarton - and stands to collect $10,000 if successful.

Faulkner has never raced a horse in the South Island. The win clinched an automatic starting berth in the Winter Cup.

The victory was one of two on the day for apprentice jockey Chad Ormsby who also took out the final event aboard the Lance O'Sullivan-trained Our Kitty. - HERALD ON SUNDAY